Giving your dog a treat is fun. You enjoy their enthusiasm and they, of course, enjoy the taste. Snacks are also used to reward your dog for good behavior.

Dog Treats/Snacks – The type of snack and the size of the snack determine if it is ok to give or if it is creating a health issue for your dog ^

The vast majority of commercial Dog Treats/Snacks are high in carbohydrates – 40, 50, 60, 80% carbos at times. If your dog is overweight, older, or has joint issues/soreness, if the snack is higher carbs, you need to make it as small as possible. For example, a tiny Milk Bone is 5 calories and a large Milk Bone is 125 calories.

Dogs do not require a huge treat. A small treat is appreciated and allows more of them throughout the day.

If you want to give a Dog Treat/Snack in the morning, one prior to leaving, one when you get home, and one at night (like many folks), that is 4 snacks a day.

If you are giving out high calorie Dog Treat/Snacks, this means your dog’s dinner of dry dog food is going to be reduced. Remember, your dog gets a certain number of calories a day for its intended or target weight.

Store Bought Dog Treats/Snacks – You need to see what is inside these so you can chart out the calories. Example of the most popular ones. ^

We will add more examples in the future. In fairness, these are listed in alphabetical order.

You will see many are high carbohydrate, so you can only give a few of these a day at the very most. Many of the people foods for dogs are healthier dog treat/snack choices, but store-bought dog treats/snacks are convenient and inexpensive. Owners don’t realize the carbohydrate levels due to not on the box/bag of the store-bought items. We calculated this out for you and also provided the calorie count. You will not see this on any other website. This is original research.

Manufacturer/Product

Protein
Dry Matter %

Fat
Dry Matter %

Carbs
Dry Matter %

Calories (Kcal)

Unit Size

Blue Buffalo

Blue Bars – Mini Dog Biscuits – Banana & Yogurt

13.48

5.61

72.91

12

Biscuit

Blue Bits – Tempting Turkey, Natural Soft moist training treats

17.14

7.14

67.72

3

Bit

Blue Bites – Savory Salmon, Natural Soft Moist Dog Treats

14.28

5.71

72.01

12

Bite

Blue Stix – Chicken & Brown Rice Natural Dog Treats

21.33

10.66

60.01

20

Stix

Blue Dog Bakery

Super Stars Assorted Flavors

9.57

6.38

76.05

9

Biscuit

Softies Peanut Butter Flavor

8.23

7.05

76.72

47

Treat

Peanut Butter & Molasses Flavor – Small

9.57

6.38

76.06

39

Treat

Peanut Butter & Molasses Flavor – Medium

9.57

6.38

76.06

66

Treat

Peanut Butter & Molasses Flavor – Large

9.57

6.38

76.06

95

Treat

Cesar Canine Cuisine

Softies – Grilled Chicken Flavor

5.984

5.19

80.97

7

Treat

Dogsters

Healthy Treats – Frozen Ice Cream

14.41

11.25

66.34

96

Cup

Iams

Iams Shakables – Soft & Chewy Turkey

10.59

5.51

75.60

15

6 oz. Cup Treat

Milk Bone

Original Biscuits – Small

17.04

5.68

69.28

20

Biscuit

Original Biscuits – Medium

17.04

5.68

69.28

40

Biscuit

Original Biscuits – Large

17.04

5.68

69.28

125

Biscuit

Gravy Bones Biscuits – Small

17.04

5.68

69.28

45

Biscuit

Trailmix

13.09

7.14

71.77

5
4
3

Bone
Jerky
Swt Potato

MaroSnacks – Small

13.63

7.95

70.42

10

Marrowbone

Soft & Chewy Chicken Recipe

23.07

10.25

58.68

23

Chew

Soft & Chewy Beef & Filet Mignon Recipe

23.07

10.25

58.68

23

Chew

Healthy Favorites Chewy Treats with Real Chicken

22.50

11.25

58

23

Chew

Healthy Favorites Chewy Treats with Real Beef

22.50

11.25

58

23

Chew

Mother Hubbard Dog Biscuits

Mini

13.9

7.9

70.2

8

Piece

Small

13.9

7.9

70.2

33

Piece

Large

13.9

7.9

70.2

138

Piece

Pedigree

Jumbone Treats – Small/Medium

8.53

1.21

82.26

295

Piece

Marrobone Treats

13.63

10.22

68.15

39

Piece

Pup-Peroni

Original Beef Flavor

31.57

15.78

44.65

47/treat
27/treat

25 oz. bag
5.6 oz. bag

Original Bacon Flavor

31.57

15.78

44.65

47/treat
27/treat

25 oz. bag
5.6 oz. bag

Purina

Frosty Paws – Original

25

20.31

46.69

120

Cup

Frosty Paws – Peanut Butter

25

20.31

46.69

120

Cup

Beggin Strips – Bacon & Cheese

20.27

5.40

66.33

30

Strip

Beggin Strips – Bacon

20.27

5.40

66.33

30

Strip

Snausages

Snaw Somes – Beef & Chicken

5.06

1.89

85.05

118

Treat

Snaw Somes – Beef & Cheese

5.06

1.89

85.05

118

Treat

Snaw Somes – Beef & Cheese – Mini

5.06

1.89

85.05

24

Treat

In a Blanket – Beef & Cheese

21.12

9.85

61.03

25

Treat

Seasonals – Backyard Grill

21.42

5.71

64.87

23
24

Hot Dog
Hamburger

Chicken Jerky – Many are made in China but have cities in the USA where they are packaged. Look very carefully. If on bag says Made In China, do not use. If you have any now in the house – throw it away.

Chicago Tribune, September 2013. According to FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine, From 2010-2012, 2674 dogs were sick on Chicken Jerky from China. Are a reported 501 dogs that died as a result of this. Causes still under investigation. Possible antibiotics in the jerky resulting in toxicity.

People Food for Dogs – What is healthy and what to avoid. General Information. ^

1. Easy ones to AVOID – chocolate, raisins, grapes, onion, garlic, nuts of any kind, nutmeg, alcohol and unbaked dough – some dog foods may have onion/garlic but in very small amounts. Do not feed additional to your dog.

2. Three Categories – Meat/Dairy, Fruits, Vegetables – See the next section for in-depth protein/calorie levels of these human foods.

= For Skin and Ear Problems also. Grain Free. No Chicken. No Beef.

1. Veggies: Some dogs will eat almost anything, some will walk away. These are very low calorie.

• Carrot – Baby Carrot – only 5 calories
• Green Beans – many dogs love fresh and some really enjoy frozen• Pumpkin – canned 100% pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filler which has added sugar)• Sweet Potato, Sliced – either raw or sliced and baked into chips
• Flax Seed – you need to grind them up prior to feeding. If ground, need to refrigerate if using later. Good for up to 30 days post grinding. The whole flax seed can stay at room temperature. Add ½ teaspoon a day under 50 pounds and 1 teaspoon a day over 50 pounds. Great source of Omega’s. Many people use this in their own diets. Dog Heiro is high in Omega’s but it is ok to add more.

2. Fruits – Only one to avoid if your dog is overweight is bananas due to high calorie count. They are ok to feed a small amount to normal-sized dogs and many will follow you around if you unpeel a banana.

• Apples slices (no seeds, no core) – Not the best choice if overweight dog. See why in the next section.
• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Watermelon (no seeds)

3. Meats/Dairy – In this category will be eggs and milk products also.

People Food for Dogs – Baby Food For Dogs – Which ones are good, which to avoid. ^

Baby Food for Dogs is often used due to it being easy to store, right there at the grocery store – so easy to find, economical with most under $1.00 a jar, a wide variety of flavors and tested safe for people.

People Food for Dogs– Fruit for Dogs – healthy but need in small amounts due to carb numbers.

(1) Medium Apple (3 inch diameter) is 95 calories and is 95% carbohydrate with only 2% protein. If cut into 5 pieces it is 19 calories a piece. This is about the same carbo amount and calorie count as a dog biscuit treat. High carb, low protein – not for the overweight dog.

Strawberries: Only 2 calories each but still 85% carbs. Can feed 5 of them and only 10 calories, but know you need to feed only a few due to carb amount.

Blueberries: only ½ – 1 calorie each but still 91% carbs. A ¼ baking cup is 21 calories so if you feed 10 of them, it is less than 10 calories total.

Watermelon – one small watermelon ball (12.2 grams) is only 3.7 calories. A ¼ baking cup is only about 12 calories, but still 89% carbs.

People Food for Dogs– Vegetables For Dogs

People Food for Dogs–Baby Carrot For Dogs – raw – only 5 calories – great but know it is 95% carbs! Again, like many commercial snacks, need to know can feed lots of high carb items and get fit. Ok to have these in limited amounts.

People Food for Dogs – Green Beans For Dogs– only 1.7 calories each (4 inch long, 1 raw) – still 83% carbs but easy to give and low calorie. Can feed 3 baby carrots or 8! Green beans, and same 15 calories. Fun Fact: If get frozen green beans it is only 77% carbs – 6% less than raw.

People Food For Dogs – Pumpkin For Dogs

Canned (Not Pumpkin Pie Filling, just canned pumpkin) – only 21 calories per ¼ baking cup, so about 5 calories a tablespoon. It is still 85% carbs but a great option to add to dinner or as a snack.

Raw pumpkin – (no seeds) only 7 calories per ¼ baking cup or about 2 calories per tablespoon. Let Fido have some on Halloween!

People Food for Dogs– Sweet Potato For Dogs

Baked – 93% carbs, 45 calories per ¼ cup, 12 cal/tablespoon. You need to know high carbs. Ok for a little a day but only a little.

*Lots of Non-Grain dog foods use Sweet Potato instead as a carb source – know non-grain does not equalhealthy – many are good but many are huge calories and not healthy.Click here for Healthy Non-Grain Dog Foods – Many Choices

Carbs

Protein

Calories

Regular Potato – Baked (1 ounce)

92

7

26

Sweet Potato – Baked (1 ounce)

93

6

26

People Food For Dogs – Meats/Dairy For Dogs

People Food for Dogs – Eggs For Dogs – 28% protein, 2% carbs – a great choice! 90 calories per one egg. Not feeding whole egg, just a ¼ at a time is only 23 calories.

If do just Egg Whites, it is approximately 35% protein and low carb at 3%. – Great choice.

Hardboiled Egg is 77 calories, 35% protein and low carb at 3%. A 35% protein snack is also super – and easy to make up. ½ of a hardboiled egg is only 39 calories. Compare to a biscuit that is 30-40 calories but 80% carbs!

Frozen Yogurts – USDA has non-chocolate ones at a 221/calorie a cup. That is 55 calories for ¼ cup or about 13 calories a tablespoon – so it is ok to let them lick the bowl after you eat some or leave a little in – 65% carbs, 9% protein. Real Yogurt is a better choice but a little is ok.

Canned Chicken (Hormel) – 5 oz. only $1.79. on 16 calories/1 tablespoon. Right next to the canned tuna at the store. Easy, Cheap.

NOTE: Cooked dark meat has just a few more calories – 53 calories an ounce in leg meat versus 48 calories an ounce of white meat, BUT the protein level is lower at 60% and fat higher at 40% – feed white meat if there is a choice.

e. People Food for Dogs – Turkey for Dogs
• Canned Turkey (Hormel) – only $1.79 for a 5 oz. can and a high protein, low calorie snack at 16 calories per tablespoon.
• Turkey breast meat from the deli is an excellent 70% protein and a low 16% carbs. One slice is only 22 calories.

A. Shredded Cheese (like to make Tacos) is easy to add to dog food. Reduced Fat Cheddar Jack is 40 calories per tablespoon.
B. A Cheese Stick – broken up in pieces and put in the bowl gets a lot of dogs eating. Reduced fat sharp Cheddar Cheese Stick is only 60 calories a stick.

Store-bought Gravy

A. These are very inexpensive and last a long time – only $1.50 a bottle. These have wheat flour, so not for dogs with skin/ear problems from food allergies to grain.
B. Many Flavors – Beef, Pork, Turkey Gravy. My dog licks the bowl for beef gravy.
C. It is low calories – only 12 calories/tablespoon.

Vegetable Stock – in a liquid form in a box, ready-to-go, pour on to dry dog food. Dogs with skin/ear issues can use.

Chicken Stock – In the soup section at the grocery store – pour in a little to flavor up the dry dog food. Dogs lap it up. Low Calorie. Helps add flavor.

Soup – Example: Campbell’s Condensed Broccoli and Cheese Soup or Cream of Chicken and Mushroom. Only 12 calories a tablespoon. Has wheat flour.

Canned Dog Food – Easiest solution. Just 1-2 Tablespoons. Can also just use the juice of the contents and not the food itself. 1 can of food can do a week’s worth of feedings. If you have a skin/ear chronic problem dog, call us. Only a few canned dog foods have no egg, no chicken fat, no chicken, no beef, no grain – we will help you. Many grain-free exotic meats (lamb, venison, boar…) have chicken antigen from fat, egg, meal added to it.

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